Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

One question: Does it really have to be that long? While reading, I can't just help but think... Is Suzanne Collins torturing me as well? Is this her playing the role of 'President Snow' to her readers? Because when all that's happening is bloodshed and chaos, all I can wish for is for everything to end, for the book to stop torturing me while the characters are being tortured as well.

P.S.

Collins even deny us that brief romance we all savored in the other two books. We don't even know what Peeta and Katniss's children's names are.

P.P.S

Funny because after finishing the book I realized that Gale actually crept on me, I started wondering about him as the book ends.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Favorite Quotes:“You love me. Real or not real?"I tell him, "Real.” “You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real," he whispers."Real," I answer. "Because that's what you and I do, protect each other.” “Sometimes when I'm alone, I take the pearl from where it lives in my pocket and try to remember the boy with the bread, the strong arms that warded off nightmares on the train, the kisses in the arena.” “I think....you still have no idea. The effect you can have.” “That what I need to survive is not Gale's fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.” “All those months of taking it for granted that Peeta thought I was wonderful are over. Finally, he can see me for who I really am. Violent. Distrustful. Manipulative. Deadly. And I hate him for it.”